Monday, January 2, 2012

Holiday Updates Part I

I apologize for not writing sooner.

Our Christmas celebrating began a little earlythis year, on my birthday (12/21) to be exact. Back in 2004 Mike spent about 2 months in a psychiatric hospital for his anger/agitation. It was a very difficult time for us as a family, but the staff there was so understanding and caring. One of the nurses accompanied Mike and I to the ER so he could be sedated for them to do a CtScan. Unfortunately, Mike had a bad reaction to Haldol and I was distraught. This angel stayed with us, even though her shift was over. I will never forget her kindness.

After our local newspaper ran a story on our family two years ago, the staff at Zucker Hillside have made it their mission to make our holidays a little brighter, and this year they went ABOVE & BEYOND. These angels delivered SO MUCH yummy food, gifts and money. I cannot say enough about these nurses (pictured above) and the entire staff who continue to remember us year after year, despite their own lives and busy schedules. We are truly blessed. (I also know they read this blog so I want to let them know that one of them left a pair of gloves at our house which I will send back with the Thank You card that will be going out tomorrow).

Christmas Day we were blessed to have our wonderful aide Blanca work with us. This was the first year we can remember that we had an aide on Christmas day, so Courtney and I were able to go to Midnight Mass knowing that I would not have the full responsibility of caring for Mike on Christmas Day (Brandon agreed to stay home with Mike). It was a quiet Christmas, but special nonetheless. We waited to open our presents until Mike was cleaned and dressed (about 10 a.m.) and then we moved him into the dining room area so he could be a part of the festivities. The entire time we were opening presents, Mike's eyes were wide open, then we took liberty and all posed for individual pictures with Mike. We ended with a family photo which we posted above, along with a picture of Mike and Blanca.

Every year Christmas and New Years is a difficult time, and I am thankful that I have enough to keep me occupied so that I don't have much time to think. As soon as I stop, even for a moment, my mind goes to thoughts about what our life would have been like without Alzheimer's Disease. I look at Mike and cry: for all that he has missed and for all of Mike's love, attention and encouragement that our children will never know.

About Me

My husband Mike was diagnosed at the age of 36 with Young Onset Alzheimer's Disease. For almost 11 years, my children & I took care of Mike at home - until he passed away on February 28, 2012 at the age of 47. When Mike was first diagnosed, he gave me "permission" to place him in a nursing home, but I chose not to do that. With the help of my children, family &aides, I kept the promise to myself that I would keep him home until the "end". I began this blog about 5 years ago to keep family and friends updated on Mike's condition as he weathered some difficult health issues and hospitalizations. During the process, it became a method for me to vent about issues that directly effected us as a family caring for someone with AD. Nothing along this journey has been easy & I will continue to advocate & be the voice for all those patients who have been silenced by Alzheimer's Disease. NO ONE SURVIVES ALZHEIMER'S, the disease does not discriminate and I will do all I can to make a difference. My faith has been my strength and we have been blessed with MANY angels along the way.
Mike will always be my hero!